My company specializes in automated matching and tracking, our software suite utilizes a camera-captured 2d barcode allowing the user to "shoot-upload-track". Our go-to-market strategy involves the professional photography industry and we have hit it out of the park here, so now I'm pushing the 'grand vision' to include more diverse applications....this is where we all come in.

I know the system works well in this capacity but I wanted to get some initial feedback from outside our normal data channels. Let's just say for example that you own 36 Swiss k-31 rifles, but you can't remember if you have a 1951 yet.....a quick check on your phone while you're standing at the gun-show tells you that you don't and you're cleared to buy without hesitation.

So........

1. I need a willing participant to test the application of a webware (cloud-based) inventory tracking and management software. The platform is rock-solid private and you will be able to access your collection information from anywhere you can receive an internet connection! Ideally, you have lots of guns or other assets that you would like to track and keep a photo-record inventory.
Requirements:
-printer
-digital camera
-assets for inventory

PM me or respond here for more info and I can set you up. This is a casual exercise, i'm hoping only that you'll like the system and use it, or that you don't like it and tell me why/how I can make it better.

General questions:

1. Is a robust and simply powerful tracking system a tool that can be applicable to firearms collections? Possible applications include; digital CandR bound book, insurance records, near-instant inventory recall from your iphone/android/blackberry. Are these realistic uses?

2. Is a $99 one-time charge reasonable for an application like this?

bigmike82

08-17-2010, 6:35 PM

1. Absolutely. I think one of your chief challenges is going to be trying to figure out how to get the barcode on the weapon in such a way as to make it not suck. I don't want a UPC on my rifle....I might be okay with a little data-matrix type thing on a small corner somewhere. So the first challenge (unless you've solved this already) is finding the right sticker combination for this.

Inventory tracking systems seem to have saturated the market already, but I commend you guys for making a competing product that works. :)

2. Not for most people. Knowing what guns I have isn't worth the 99 bucks to me (especially since I already know what I have). It would be worth that much as a general inventory system for a company, for example, but 99 as a firearms themed one is likely too much.

What might work better is a "Lite version for free" model. That is, you leave certain cooler features disabled unless the user buys the full featured one. You could have some non-crappy ads to generate some latent revenue, or paid mobile versions...stuff like that. I just don't think that a majority of gun owners would pay that much up-front just for asset tracking.

Hopi

08-17-2010, 6:51 PM

Thanks. That's great feedback.

brassburnz

08-17-2010, 9:57 PM

Sounds like a great idea. I was thinking it would include a barcode generator for the enduser. Type in the serial number of the gun. Generate a barcode you could print. Place it next to the gun and take a photo. I'm not sure exactly how your program would work. Just throwing stuff out there.

Two security concerns. I wouldn't want access to my firearms collection floating around the internet. I wouldn't want anyone knowing where said collection resides.

OFF TOPIC: After watching "Inception" this sounds like a great way to scam someone, of course you'd have to get them to fall asleep first. ;)

Hopi

08-17-2010, 10:06 PM

Still looking for a person to test the system at no cost.....get yourself a free account!

Security concerns:
-The galleries/archives are only accessible by unique alpha-numeric codes that are randomly generated. We use the technology to keep childrens' identities safe and private, it will be more than secure for sensitive inventory purposes.

-An address is not necessary for account ownership. Only email.

locosway

08-20-2010, 7:03 AM

Good luck...

I developed http://onlinegunsafe.com and it flopped here on CGN. Too many people worried about the government.